Please, If You Love Benchmade, Don’t Sleep on This New, Collector-Level Knife

The brand’s latest Full Immunity iteration is in a class of its own.

benchmade gold class full immunity on charred and smokey background

Published March 12, 2024

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There’s an infinitely frustrating experience almost everyone who participates in capitalism has experienced: The moment when a brand changes the formula to your go-to jeans, booze, outerwear or anything else that’s earned “favorite” status in your life. It’s annoying and sort of heartbreaking to love something so dearly, only to have it turn into something totally different than what you’d come to know and expect. (Yes, we’re still talking product here.)

But what about the opposite, much more satisfying phenomenon of a brand taking one of your favorites and making it even better than before? That’s what Benchmade just did with its latest release, the Gold Class Full Immunity.

The Full Immunity Goes Gold Class

If you’re a fan of Benchmade, you’re likely familiar with the Full Immunity, but if you’re a recent convert, let me bring you up to speed. The Full Immunity is one of Benchmade’s most popular designs; it appeared in early 2023 as part of the Immunity family of knives, which were designed with everyday carry in mind.

man's hand holding benchmade gold class full immunity knife — The Gold Class Full Immunity uses the design language of its predecessors and reinvents it with premium materials.

These sub-compact knives include the Full Immunity, Partial Immunity and Auto Immunity. Starting at $300, they generally feature CPM-M4 Super Steel Wharncliffe blades, AXIS locks and anodized aluminum handles. Today, Benchmade welcomes the Gold Class Full Immunity to the family.

close up of the benchmade gold class immunity blade — The Gold Class Full Immunity features a Damasteel damascus blade and sapphire-colored hardware.

What’s different — and what’s the same?

The Gold Class Full Immunity was designed with the intent of bringing super-premium materials to an already popular knife design. While functionally this is the same knife as the standard Full Immunity — think lightweight, compact and functional — it comes with some serious material upgrades … and the price to match.

The Wharncliffe-style blade is forged from Ægir patterned Damasteel damascus, and the handle is formed with unidirectional carbon fiber scales in a wood grain pattern. The spacers, thumb stud and mini deep carry pocket clip are all Sapphire blue PVD-coated. At just over two ounces, the Gold Class Immunity ($600) sustains the sub-compact silhouette of its Immunity brethren — in a stunning new package.

While some fans of the brand may bemoan the lack of innovation carried through the Gold Class, others will recognize Benchmade’s effort to create a collector-level pocket knife that utilizes the functionality of the standard-issue Full Immunity while integrating next-level materials.

Whether you’re a collector, avid Benchmade fan or just have a penchant for dope, expensive knives, the Gold Class Immunity should be an easy sell. It’s available through 2024, but after that — no promises.

Benchmade Gold Class Full Immunity

This high-end rendition of the Full Immunity features a Wharncliffe-style blade made of Damasteel damascus, unidirectional carbon fiber scales and bright sapphire blue accents, including the thumb stud and pocket clip.